Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Part 2, section 7(1) defines a "health service" to mean "a service (including a personal social service) provided by or on behalf of the Executive". Amendment No. 12 proposes to expand this definition by giving examples of personal social services. Personal social services, along with health services, have been defined in the Health Act 2004 to refer to those services covered by the Act and specified in its Schedule.

Personal social services encompass a wide range of services extending far beyond specific services for people with disabilities. Examples include substance abuse services, services for refugees, psychosexual counselling and services for victims of domestic violence. Examples of disability-specific personal social services, to which the Senator refers, include personal assistants, home supports, home help assistance with household tasks and home care assistants and these are provided for in the Health Act 2004. I am satisfied that the relevant services for people with disabilities are covered sufficiently by the approach taken in the Bill and that therefore this amendment is unnecessary.